Service 02
Rooftop unit replacement without shutting your building down.
Replacing a packaged unit is a short job when it is planned properly and a long one when it is not. We handle the survey, equipment selection, crane, permit and startup so the swap happens on the day we said it would.
- Equipment
- Packaged gas/electric and heat pump RTUs
- Includes
- Curb adapter, crane, permit, startup
- Refrigerant
- Current low-GWP equipment
- Downtime
- Planned around occupancy
Scope
When replacement makes more sense than repair
We will always tell you if a repair is the better spend. These are the signs that it usually is not.
Compressor or heat exchanger failure
On an older unit, the repair can approach the cost of new equipment with none of the efficiency.
Repeated service calls
Three or four visits a year on one unit is money that could be going toward its replacement.
R-22 equipment
Refrigerant for these units is scarce and expensive, and every leak costs more than the last.
Corroded cabinet or pan
Rusted bases and drain pans lead to roof leaks and water damage below.
Rising energy use
Old units with failed economizers and worn compressors cost far more to run.
Tenant improvements
A change in use or occupancy often changes the load the unit has to carry.
Approach
What a replacement includes
If your building has a group of units the same age, we can lay out a phased replacement plan so you can budget year by year instead of reacting to failures.
- Site survey. Model, electrical, gas, curb dimensions, duct connections and roof access, measured in person.
- Right-sized equipment. We confirm capacity against the space instead of copying the old nameplate.
- Curb adapter. Fabricated to match the new unit to the existing curb, so the roof is not cut open.
- Crane and logistics. Lift plan, street or lot access and scheduling handled for you.
- Permit and code items. Mechanical permit, economizer and thermostat requirements, and the inspections that go with them.
- Startup and handoff. Charge, airflow, gas pressure and controls verified, with the readings recorded.
Process
How the job runs
Survey
We measure the existing unit, curb, power and access.
Proposal
Equipment options, scope, schedule and price in writing.
Lift day
Old unit off, adapter and new unit set, connections made.
Startup
Commissioned, tested and documented before we leave.
Questions
Rooftop Unit (RTU) Replacement: common questions
How long is the building without air?
For a typical like-for-like swap, the affected zone is usually down for part of a day. We schedule the lift for the time that disturbs occupants the least.
Do I need a permit to replace a rooftop unit?
In most California jurisdictions, yes. A mechanical permit is required, and the energy code adds requirements such as economizer and thermostat provisions depending on the unit. We handle the permit as part of the job.
Will the new unit use a different refrigerant?
Yes. New equipment has moved away from R-410A to lower-GWP refrigerants. That affects the unit you buy, not how you use it. We explain what changes and what does not.
Can you match the existing curb?
In most cases, yes, with a curb adapter built for the old and new unit dimensions. That avoids reworking the roof.
Related
Related services
Commercial HVAC Service & Repair
Diagnosis and repair for rooftop units, split systems, heat pumps and building systems, scheduled around the people inside.
View →Code Compliance & Refrigerant Transition
Plain-English help with the refrigerant phase-down, energy code requirements, permits and the paperwork that goes with them.
View →Preventive Maintenance Agreements
Scheduled commercial maintenance with written reports, built around your equipment list and your budget.
View →Request service
Tell us what the building needs.
Call or text and you reach us directly, not a call center. Most requests get a reply the same day.
(818) 299-0707Call or text · [email protected]